Louay Almasri

When war broke our in Syria, Louay Almasri was studying to be a vet. He lived happily with his family on their farm, and then in a matter of just a few hours, their world changed forever.

“Before the war, we had a good life. We had everything, there were jobs, we could study. We could do anything. But everything changed over just one night. We lost everything – my one brother was killed and my other brother was tortured. We had to flee to Jordan.”

Along with his brother, Louay was relocated to Birmingham as part of the UN’s resettlement programme. Now 30, he’s working hard to build a new life.

“I came with my brother in December, then my sister and mother came to meet us in May, so my family is here. We’re just waiting for my father to join us next month. Last August he moved to Lebanon and he’s applied for a visa.”

Read More

Talking so easily with Louay, it’s hard to believe that English is a new language to him: “When I came here, my language wasn’t very good and I still need to improve. My work coach at the job centre sent me for ESOL classes (English for Speakers of Other Languages) at Birmingham Metropolitan College. When I began to improve my language, I started to look for jobs in the paper and on the internet.”

When he first came to the city, Louay found support at the Amirah Foundation, a charity based in Sparkbrook. The support workers helped him to build a CV, fill out forms and get on the road to employment. In just a few months, he had a new job opportunity with Lloyds bank which he’s preparing to start this month. The chance to work has given Louay a real sense of purpose.

“I feel like I’ve come back to life again. I couldn’t feel alive without a job, I felt that I was nobody. It means a lot to me to do something for myself and for society. It helps everybody.”

Though he’s making a great start to his life in Birmingham, Louay hopes that one day he’ll be able to find some semblance of the life he was forced to leave behind: “It’s a start for me, to help me rebuild. But I do hope to return to Syria some day – it’s still my country. If the war finishes, I will definitely go back.”

Lucy Cotton

Lucy Cotton with her son Sam

When Lucy Cotton was pregnant with her only son Sam, she and husband Steve were told that there was a chance of their baby having Down syndrome. When their little boy arrived with the genetic condition 10 weeks early in November 2012, life for the couple changed forever.

Being premature meant that Sam needed extra help in those early weeks, requiring a nasal feeding tube and oxygen to help with feeding problems and to help his little lungs. With the help of Heartlands Hospital, where Sam was born, the family were able to head home 10 weeks later, with extra support from nurses.

But Sam wasn’t the only one that needed support. Heartlands put Lucy and Steve in touch with the Solihull Down Syndrome Association, to connect them with other parents in similar situations to their own.

“On contacting the group, I was put in touch with another mother whose daughter was born a week later than Sam and also had Down syndrome. She is now one of my closest friends, and it’s been really useful to have a good friend who understand what it’s like to have a child with additional needs. Her support has got me through some truly heartbreaking times, and without contacting the group, we’d never have met.

“For us, having parents who had or were going through the same issues as ourselves, in terms of working with educational and community support to get the inputs from professionals our children need, was invaluable. Sometimes just knowing you are not alone is helpful.”

Read More

Lucy and Steve are now active trustees of the charity, running regular play and stay groups, arranging fundraisers and offering support to new parents. Sam’s own social life is equally as busy.

“Sam does have some development delays but I’ve found that the children at his preschool just see him as friend, and he’s finding his own way to communicate through the use of Makaton and verbal sounds. One sign he has also learnt early on is ‘cake’, so he knows how to ask for his favourite thing!

“Life with Sam is amazing, fun, heart-warming and truly makes be thankful for him being born safe and well. He’s a cheeky little boy who knows no boundaries, and as our world becomes more accepting of differences, I have high hopes he will grow up in an inclusive Birmingham where anything is possible.”

Bradley Meersand

PR worker Bradley Meersand pictured for the Faces of Brum feature.

Brooklyn-born Bradley Meersand left the bright lights of New York to set up home in Birmingham two years ago. The 26-year-old moved to the area for one reason only – love. And since he’s been here, he’s fallen head over heels with the city too.

He met his wife Susannah, head of year and RE teacher at Cardinal Wiseman Catholic Technology College, eight years ago while on a gap year in Israel.

“After our magical year was up, we had to say our goodbyes and start our journey as a long distance couple. I am always asked the same question, ‘Why on earth would you move from New York City to Birmingham?’ My answer is always the same, I am a gentlemen and the guy should always go to the girl. “

Bradley moved to the UK and began working at Clives Reeves PR on Colmore Row. He didn’t plan on staying for very long, but that quickly changed. He found happiness with not only his colleagues (who he describes as ‘family’) but in the nooks and crannies of the city too – its bars, restaurants and attractions.

Read More

“When I first decided to move to the UK, I was one of those ignorant Americans who thought that the only thing that England has going for it was London. I was adamant about relocating to London within the first year of living in the UK, but now I wouldn’t move to London if you paid me.

“Birmingham has a grit and character that just speaks to me. I genuinely believe that Birmingham is Britain’s Brooklyn. The growth and transformation that Birmingham is currently going through reminds me of what Brooklyn underwent a decade or so ago.

“Parts of Williamsburg and Downtown Brooklyn used be an industrial graveyard with abandoned factories and warehouses and are now the most unaffordable places to live in New York City. I see that happening in Birmingham, especially in places like Digbeth.”

Bradley is excited about the city’s future, and watching it flourish alongside his wife in their city centre home.

“So what has kept me in Birmingham? I would say its potential and what has yet to come. I am just excited be a part of it and watch it all unfold and see Birmingham take centre stage."

Meet more Faces of Brum throughout the week as we celebrate Birmingham's Love Your Neighbour Week of Kindness campaign